A consultation launched this month proposes the closure of five children’s homes in line with the council’s strategy, which is focussed on placing more looked-after children in family settings.
The council argued that the homes set for closure have been identified based on their performance as judged by Ofsted. It also cited the cost of placing a child into residential care as around £2,500 per child, per week, compared with around £499 in foster care.
Councillor Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children and family services at Birmingham Council, said: “For the vast majority of looked-after children, it is far better that they grow up in a settled family environment as this improves their life chances, both emotionally and in terms of educational achievement.
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